CLICK
As Celestara opened the large, ornately carved doors.
Kael took in the sight of the man lying on the grand bed before him.
Her husband, though visibly weakened and pale, retained an air of regal handsomeness, his chiseled features softened by his illness but still striking.
His skin, however, seemed drained of color, and his breathing was shallow, a testament to the curse sapping his life force.
Kael turned to Celestara, his expression focused and serious.
"Your highness, have the items I requested arrived?"
Celestara nodded.
"You can call me by my name as for items, I have sent them". Her words barely finished as the doors opened once more.
CLICK
Marina entered, carrying a bundle of leaves and branches with the same woman .
Kael had briefly seen at the castle entrance, both bowing respectfully.
Marina stepped forward and handed the carefully gathered materials to Celestara, who inspected them briefly before passing them to Kael.
"Your Highness," Marina said with a slight bow, addressing Celestara, her tone formal as she completed her task.
Kael accepted the bundle with a nod of thanks, his eyes examining the vibrant green leaves and thick branches essential for his task.
Kael turned to Celestara, his gaze sharp and calculating.
"Celestara, I'll need one sample of your blood and one sample of your husband's," he said, his tone direct.
Celestara paused briefly, then nodded, her expression unwavering.
"Alright," she replied, gesturing to Marina,
who quickly stepped forward to prepare the necessary materials.
"One more thing," Kael added.
"I'll need a private room for my work, and I need you to ensure no one else enters while I'm there."
Celestara nodded, a hint of curiosity glinting in her eyes.
"Consider it done," she replied.
.....
"Let's begin," Kael muttered, his voice steady as he prepared to test his theory.
In the quiet room, he placed a single leaf from the Evernight Tree on the desk, watching it with a practiced focus.
This was a rare technique—an ancient, hidden art of the Talia clan, renowned for their expertise in dealing with curses.
He knew the process well
if he mixed the blood of a cursed person with that of an unaffected one on the Evernight leaf, it would reveal the curse's presence.
The blood mixture would turn blue if the curse existed; otherwise, it would remain its natural color.
And there was one final step
By pouring only the cursed blood onto an Evernight Tree branch, the wood would reveal an image of the person who had cast the curse, offering a glimpse of the curse's source.
With steady hands, Kael took the samples, ready to uncover the truth.
Kael watched as the blood mixture from Celestara's husband and Celestara turned a distinct blue on the Evernight leaf.
"As expected, it's a curse," he muttered, a feeling of satisfaction settling in.
SLURP
As then he poured Celestara husband blood onto the Evernight branch to reveal the caster's image.
"..."
"?????"
Nothing appeared.
Kael frowned, confusion crossing his face.
"What's happening? This is supposed to work," he thought, going over the technique in his mind.
The steps were correct—this was the Talia clan's method, and he was sure he remembered it perfectly.
To double-check, he pricked his finger and let a few drops of his own blood fall onto the
Evernight tree leaf along with Celestara's husband's blood.
As kael watched mixture.
The leaf stayed its natural color.
"...."
"... What happening?"
"It's doesn't change it colour"
Then a thought came to his mind as he tried his blood with Celestara's.
The mixture turned blue.
"What the fuck?!" He shouted
"What the hell?!" He shouted again
A realization hit him, sharp and unsettling.
The curse wasn't on her husband.
It was placed on Celestara herself.
SLURP
Kael then dripped Celestara blood onto the Evernight tree branch.
Image pops up.
"..."
"????"
"Are you joking with me"
The image was of Marina.
"Marina why would she place a curse on Celestara " kael muttered
"Oh, it's seems you really figured it out,"
"....?"
"who is it"
As kael looked back at the source from where voice came.
It was marina
"But it won't do you any good. You're not leaving this room alive." Marina added while
pointing her sword straight at him
Kael felt a rush of adrenaline, a dangerous smile spreading across his face.
Oh, Marina, he mused internally. You just made this a lot more interesting.
Now he decided that his conditions for treating Celestara's husband would now have to be threefold.
After all, uncovering the truth had its costs—and he intended to make it worth his while.
_______________
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